In the aftermath of last week\u2019s mayhem, irate Social Distance shack dwellers have vowed to make the area ungovernable if their grievances are not addressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Friday 16 August, disgruntled residents barricaded Mew Way Road with burning tyres and stones demanding service delivery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The neighbourhood is one of many informal settlements that mushroomed around Cape Town at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After more than four years, residents are demanding services. They are accusing government of ignoring them. Among others, they are demanding additional temporary toilets and electricity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Faith Mhlonyelwa, a community leader, said nothing is happening in the area and they want the installation of communal taps. \u201cWe depend on the City\u2019s truck that brings water for us. The truck comes twice a week, only Wednesday and Sunday. What about the other days? And not all of us get the water because some of us are at work when it comes,\u201d said Mhlonyelwa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She described Friday\u2019s protest as the start of the many to come. \u201cWhat is it difficult for the councillor to come to our area and address us about what is going on? Last year, three people (a mother and two children) died in a shack fire. People were watching because we have no water to extinguish fires,\u201d said an irate Mhlonyelwa. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
She highlighted the shortage of temporary toilets as one of their biggest challenges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Residents use a nearby bush to answer the call of nature. \u201cWe have more than 1 600 shacks here and we only have about 360 temporary toilets. What about other people, where they are going to help themselves?\u201d asked Mhlonyelwa. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
She stressed that they don\u2019t have electricity as well, but stated that they are starting with the essential services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ward 90 councillor Lukhanyo Simangweni expressed dismay at claims that she neglected residents. He said the community never came to him with their grievances. \u201cI fail to understand why the community leaders went on the street instead of coming to me. The SD leaders are well informed about what is going on. I told them that there are processes that have to be followed in the City and they know about that,\u201d said Simangweni, adding that he never shy away from meeting them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, he stated that the City officials will visit the area to assess it before installing the communal taps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSoon the City officials will come and do the survey in the area and see if they can install communal taps,\u201d he said but didn\u2019t confirm when exactly they will come. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Simangweni also confirmed that there are shortages of temporary toilets in the area, citing that he\u2019s busy trying to organise them.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In the aftermath of last week\u2019s mayhem, irate Social Distance shack dwellers have vowed to make the area ungovernable if their grievances are not 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